Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-01-21

NOJnn put the best o Carc1l carry me
through, aud know you'll give it to me for
the sake OF old times and Joscph's face cx-
pressed TO his comrades the idea that there
had been a time when his relations with her
had been exceedingly tender.
Rachel's face flushed Mt the inlpudcnt as
sumption, but she ovcrcamo the temptation
TO make a suubbing answer, and replied
quietly:
mo, Joseph you are not so sick as you
think you are (Shc calls him Joseph. au-
dibly commented some Of those near as if
this was IA confirmation of Joc's nsinuation1
"The surgeons say" She continued that
your symptoms are not at all bad, and that
you'll be- up again in Il few days"
80, them doctors always talk that way
They're the ilintiest-hcarted set ever seen
in all my born days. They're always pre-
tending that they don't believe there is
nothin' the matter with Il Teller. / really be-
lieve they'd little licicr Il mand die than
not sTncy don't seem to take no sort of in
terest in savin the soldiers that the country
needs SO badly
Rachel felt ..as if it would swcoten much
hard service if She could tell Pancake out
right her opinion, that he was acting very
calfishly; but other counsc> prevailed, and
she said cncoungngly:
"You are only discouraged, Joscph-that's
ALL A few days rest here VIII restore your
health and your spirits"
"No, I'll never be WE'LL" persisted Joe,
"unless [ have the best o care; but | feel
much better now, since find you here, for
I'm sure youl take as much interest in me as
a oister would
She shuddered a little at the prospect Of
even temporary ssterly relations to the fell
low. but replied Euardedly;
"Of course I'll do what [ can for you,
Joseph and started TO move away, but he
caught her dress and whmpered:
"Oh, don't go, Miss Rachel; don't 20 and
leave me all alone Stay any way till I'm
fixed somehow comfortable"
II half believe the BOBBY will have hvs-
tcrics' Thought Rachel, with curlnt lip. is
this the luau they praised 50 for hi, horoi,m!
Doc, all hl, manhood depend upon his health !!
Now he hasn't the spirit of II sick kitten
DreadiL- a scene, however, she took her scat
at the head OF the cot, and gave some dircc-
tons for its arrangements.
Joes sym t1l, grew worse rapidly, for he
bent all hi .",,ty cnorgir, to that end Re-
uge in the hospital from the unpleasant con
tingencicS attending duty in the field was
good thing, and it became superexccllcnt
when his condition made him the object Of
the care and sympathy of SO fine n young
lady as Mis-, Rachel Bond. This he felt was
something like compensation for all that he
had endured for the country, and he would
get as much of it as possible. His mind
busted itself in recalling and initiating the
signs of suffering lie had seen in others.
He hreathed stertorousiy, groan"d and
81 HE'D immediately, and even had little fits
o.. well feguod drlirum, in which he babbled
of home and friends ana the war, and such
other things Il, had come within the limited
scope OF his mental horizon.
Don't leave me, NJ Rachcl--dont leave
me, he said, in one of the simulated par
oXysms, ciutching at the same time, with "a
movement singularly well directed for de
lirious man, one of her delicate hands in
his great, coarse and not over clean fingers
She strove torelease her fingers quietly, but
at this Pancakes paroXysm became intense
He chung the tighter to her, and lneaded her
fingers in a way that was almost maddening
Never in all her life had man presumed to
take such familiarity with her But her
woman's wit did not desert her With her
disengaged hand she felt for and took out a
throat, with the desperate intent to give her
tormentor sly stab that would change the
current of his thoughts.
just at the moment of carrying this into
effect something caused her to look up. and
she saw DR.. DenSloW standing before her,
with an amused look in his kindly, hazel eyes
She desi,tcd from her purpose and restored
the pin To its place, in obedience to ii sign
from him. which told her that he thoroughly
understood the case and had IA more Effective
way of dealing with it than the thrust of a
pin point.
I'm very much afraid this is n dangerous
case we have here, Miss Bond, he said, in u
stage whisper, rs if very anxious that the
patient should not ovcrhcar "Nee a very
dangerous case
Joe grew pale, released Rachcls hand,
turned over on lis side and groaned.
DO you really think so, doctor!' said
Rachel, in the same tone.
yes, really. Its as clear case of de
gIstibus non disputandum as | ever saw in
my life"
"Oh, Lordie, hev l got all of that" asked
Joe, as he sat bolt upright, with eyes starting
at is my unpleasant duty to cell you that
you certainly have said the doctor gravely
AS plainly indicated as ever saw it,. Fur
thernorc, it is seriously complicated with fiat
jlHtitia ruat calum, with strong hints of the
presence OF III media tutissimus ibis,
"Great Scott! can | everget we'll: groaned
poor Joe. Rachels strain was ou ncr rsiblcs
and to make her face express only sympathy
and concern.
"Aud, continued the remorseless surgeon,
in tone OF the i,indlest comnloeration, in
the absence of tine least esprit de corps, and
dulce ct decorum est pro patria mort feeling
i'll you it lsapparent that none of your mental
processes are going on properly, which de
ranges everything.
Cant he sent home to dic.' whimpered
the wretched Joe
Not in your present condition. notice, in
addition to what have told sou, that your
heart is not right-its action is deprayed, so
to speak, This with CLAN at Rachel,
which brought the crimson TO that danscls
cheek.
"Oh, doctor, please try TO do something for
me right on, before / get any worse, pleaded